A judge at Manchester Crown Court has been strongly criticised by domestic violence organisations for the judgement he passed during a domestic violence case.
The case involves Alexander Evans who was accused by his girlfriend, Stacey Booth, of coercive abuse involving multiple incidents of physical and emotional abuse.
Booth testified how he would unlock her iPhone while she was asleep by using her thumb to see if she was dating other men. He would then proceed to interrogate her throughout the night about people she was speaking to. This would leave her sleep deprived and unable to cope at work. During other arguments he has “bit her on the arm, punched her in the face and bent her fingers back so far that she thought they would break.”
The judge’s response was as follows:
- Evans was given a 12-month community order, and a restraining order which prevented him from seeing Booth
- He blamed Evans’ behavior on excessive abuse of cocaine and alcohol
- Deferred his sentence for six months so that he could get off the cocaine and alcohol
The judge made the following comments:
- everyone deserves a second chance
- I have no doubt the drinks and drugs played their part upon your behaviour towards her
- The judge told him to put the relationship behind him because there are lots more fishes in the sea
After the hearing Booth said; “The fact he’s been given a second chance is like they’ve let him get away with it. They’ve not made an example of him.” Sandra Horley CBE, Chief Executive of Refuge, said: “It is essential that the public understands that drink and drugs do not cause domestic violence. Responsibility for violence and abuse lies solely with the perpetrator who chooses to control and intimidate his victim.”
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